Folic Acid
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the mandatory fortification of white flour with folic acid is a medical intervention and on what basis this has been determined.
Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson
Mandatory fortification of non-wholemeal flour with folic acid is a preventative population-wide public health measure. Increasing folic acid intake through fortification will help prevent approximately 200 neural tube defects, including spina bifida each year, about 20% of the annual United Kingdom total.
This measure has been implemented via amendments to the Bread and Flour Regulations. These regulations already require non‑wholemeal flour in Great Britain to be fortified with calcium, iron, thiamine, and niacin for public health purposes, and the addition of folic acid builds on this established policy.
This public health measure has a long history and was recommended by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, which advised the four UK governments on nutrition-related matters in 2006 after an extensive review of the evidence on folate and health, with further information available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-folate-and-disease-prevention-report
Since then, there have been several further evidence reviews and modelling work to establish the level of folic acid added to flour as well as addressing concerns about potential adverse effects. The policy was subject to extensive consultation.
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